Events

Why We Need to Move Beyond Grit to Thrive

Grit as an essential “non-cognitive” trait

The research of Angela Duckworth and associates on the singular character trait of grit has garnered substantial attention in the educational community and even influenced how some school districts are addressing and assessing this indicator of success.

In numerous articles, Ted Talks, and her new book, Grit: The Passion and Power of Perseverance, Duckworth outlines her notion of grit as a non-cognitive factor that is beneficial to those pursuing lofty goals. Initially, she stated that grit could not be taught, but now she offers ideas for teaching students to persevere. Detractors maintain that some children, particularly those reared in poverty, are prematurely being pushed to just “try harder” rather than being coached in the requisite skills it takes to persevere (some of which are indeed cognitive in nature).

Jack Shonkoff, the director of Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child, put it this way to educational journalist, Paul Tough (Tough, 2013): If you haven’t in your early years been growing up in an environment of responsive relationships that has buffered you from excessive stress activation, then if, in tenth-grade math class, you’re not showing grit and motivation, it may not be a matter of you just not sucking it up enough. A lot of it has to do with problems of focusing attention, working memory, and cognitive flexibility. And you may not have developed those capacities because of what happened to you early in life. (p.51)

While isolating a single attribute that predicts a student’s ultimate success is appealing because of its simplicity, it is flawed for the same reason. Neurocognitive scientists are discovering more and more about heretofore unidentified neural pathways in the brain and how intricately behavior is influenced by a myriad of factors from both internal and external factors. Educational planners need to be cautious about acting too soon on a minimalist solution to a complex challenge.

How do we teach grit and other important skills?

Grit, perseverance, and passion are instrumental in igniting and maintaining individual motivation, but what about resiliency and optimism as vanguards to goal setting in the first place? Shouldn’t teachers and their students focus on explicit executive function (cognitive) skills that can be moderated through awareness and concentration? Neurocognitive scientists are giving us keys to understanding how the brain works, and cognitive scientists are teaching us how we can “outsmart” the apparent hardwiring that comes from genetics and early childhood experiences. Teachers can purposefully integrate activities into the curriculum that instruct students how to take more control over their internal messaging systems.

What about teaching social skills?

It is true that building self-efficacy through purposeful opportunities to promote emotional competences such as perseverance, resilience, optimism, growth mindset, and mindfulness can help students achieve a sense of inner fortitude and deliberateness. However, there is also a serious need for helping students develop social proficiencies such as responsibility, honesty, integrity, empathy, and gratitude. Don’t we want our students to be empowered to manage the things they can control in themselves? Isn’t it important from them to be able to assimilate successfully into their communities and workplaces? Shouldn’t educators actively strive to influence them to become contributing members of society who value themselves and others?

Critics sometimes argue that school should be a place for academics, and teaching social and emotional skills should be left to the parents. Maybe the question to ask is the famous Dr. Phil quip, “So how’s that working for you?” Beyond the obvious decline in social norms, there is scientific data that supports social and emotional learning (SEL) as a root tool for academic achievement. A 2011 meta-analysis published in the journal Child Development showed an 11 percentile gain in academic achievement for students who participated in well-implemented SEL programs versus students who didn’t. Study after study supports the addition of effective SEL to the curriculum. The focus should be on qualities that research has proven to be both malleable and teachable.

Moving beyond grit

Grit is but one component of SEL. It is important, but its insular focus on persistence and passion are impractical. The Energizer Bunny has persistence, but for all his drive, he never gets anywhere. He goes and goes, but he doesn’t thrive. In order to thrive, students need to be guided by intentional teachers who coach them how to take control over the things they can and how to minimize the effects of the things they cannot. They need to learn about their systems of ethics and how their choices affect themselves and others. Students flourish when they practice simple acts of kindness to others and routinely express gratitude for what they have and for those who help them grow. Learning Thrive skills can unlock many keys for students in both academic and nonacademic pursuits. Perhaps it is time to take our preoccupation with grit one step further.

Tags

Debbie Silver is an award-winning educator with 30 years experience as a classroom teacher, professional development expert, and university professor. She has delighted audiences in 49 states, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East with her insightful observations and astute ideas for helping assure every learner a reasonable chance at success. Debbie is the author of Fall Down 7 Times, Get Up 8: Teaching Kids to Succeed (Corwin, 2012) and co-author of Deliberate Optimism: Reclaiming the Joy in Education (Corwin, 2015) and Teaching Kids to Thrive: Essential Skills for Success (Corwin, April 2017).

Latest comments

Hi Ash!
I apologize for the delayed response. My husband and I were on vacation in Mexico. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment about the article and the new book. I had just read your article when I read your post on Robert Ward’s page and was also thinking that we should be friends. You sound like an incredible educators and a kindred spirit! I would love to touch base with you in the not-to-distant future. Please don’t hesitate to let me know if there is ever anything I can do to help you in the important work you are doing for kids. Your work sounds amazing.

Debbie, this article, which is backed by research, reinforces how parents and teachers as partners must attend to the whole child: socially, emotionally, soulfully, and academically. Such an integrated approach respects the concepts of grit and growth mindset but sees them as components in a more expansive vision of the complete needs of every child. Your article strongly echoes my recent article for Edutopia, “Growth Mindset is Not Enough.” I’m thrilled that we see things in much the same way!

About Us

Corwin has one mission: to enhance education through intentional professional learning. We build long-term relationships with our authors, educators, clients, and associations who partner with us to develop and continuously improve the best, evidence-based practices that establish and support lifelong learning.